Public transport plying on route from Wah Cantt to Pirwadhai has increased fare for the second time during last four months without any government notification adding fuel to the injuries of commuters already suffering badly from inflation. Taking plea of increase in rates of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), these transporters have started fleecing the commuters at their own and the concerned authorities have turned deaf ears to the worries of people complains’ and continuously using professional tactics for throwing responsibility on each other.
A large number of people travel daily from Wah Cantt to Rawalpindi and Islamabad through public transport for job, education, business and other purposed but the transporters are taking advantage of their problems by deciding fare without any official fare list.
The fare from Wah Cantt to Pirwadhai was Rs. 40 till December last year but in January transporters increased it to 45 with their own free will and now just within four months they have raised this fare to Rs. 50 after latest increase in petroleum products early this month.
Ehsan Ahmad a daily commuter complained that on the days of Compress Natural Gas (CNG) loadshedding, these transporters charge Rs. 50 to 60 per seat with an excuse that they run their vehicle on petrol due to CNG load-shedding.
“These vans do not have any route permit or fare list. But, they ply on this route and charge the commuters on their will”, said Raheem Khan a daily commuter of this route. He said when any passenger ask them to show fare list the refuse to aboard him and say, “go by another vehicle”.
Another passenger Amjad Khan who works at automobile shop said these transporters are working as ‘Mafia’, they increase fare when diesel prices or CNG prices increases and the concerned authorities are behaving like silent spectators.
Islamabad Traffic Police said that these vans travel only a short distance within Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and were least bothered, claimed another passenger Hayat Khan. “Anyone just tell me where I should go and register my complain against them,” he said. He said besides Highway Police, Punjab Government should take the matter seriously and pay heed to our grievances. As it is common problem, every commuter is suffering at hands of these transporters who feel no harm in over charging the passengers. But, the authorities are not taking appropriate action against these transporters leaving people to suffer, commented Jamal Akhtar, a sales man who works at six road. Public Relations Officer National Highway and Motorway Police, Aftab Aslam said Motorway and Highway police will call a meet to device a strategy for redressing grievances of people. He also passed the buck to Regional Transport Authority for fixing the fare, route allocation.
Women entrepreneurs
attract masses at Expo 2012: Over 150 stalls of women entrepreneurs attracted a large number of visitors here Sunday at the concluding day of 2-day Women Expo 2012 titled “Women in creative industry”. The expo focused on young women entrepreneurship to promote and popularize their products in the country and abroad for their economic empowerment while some male entrepreneurs also displayed their products.
The event was organized by Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) in collaboration with United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), First Women Bank, Khushhali Bank Limited to promote and encourage the Women Entrepreneurs business linkages.
The exhibition attracted a large number of women entrepreneurs from all over the country and provided them an opportunity to display their products including handicrafts, jewelry, interior decors, garments and fabrics.
About the mission and focus of Islamabad Expo 2012, the organizers told APP that “It enabled the skilled women to present their products to the market and promote and popularize them to retailers, wholesalers and distributors.”
It also gave them opportunity to learn and discover new ideas by interacting with other exhibitors, Establish their Business contacts in line of business with the stakeholders for enhancing their business by developing business linkages. The event also dedicated a Pavilion for Youth Entrepreneurship Pavilion in Marble City, Textile City, Food Courts, Global Arena – Embassies, NGO’s, Cooperate, Kids Buzz (Fun activities for kids, Schools).
Established as well as upcoming brands brought their products from different parts of the country to federal capital for introducing their name and creative ideas to the buyers.
CJ IHC constitutes 9 benches for next week: Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court (IHC) has constituted six single and three division benches to hear more than 300 cases during the next week, from Monday.
Six single benches include Chief Justice Iqbal Hameed-Ur-Rehman, Justice, Riaz Ahmed Khan, Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi, Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi,Justice Shaukat Aziz Sidqui and Justice Muhammad Azim Khan Afridi.
The first division bench (DB) comprises of Chief Justice Iqbal Hameed-Ur-Rehman and Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi, second bench, Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan, Justice Muhammad Azim Khan Afridi while the third bench include Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi and Justice Shaukat Aziz Sidqui.
